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Introduction

Malopolska is a medium developed region, generating 4.7% of the country's GDP, which ranks it fourth in Poland. GDP per capita in 2003 was PLN 18.5 thousand (10th place in Poland).

Exports from Malopolska have been gradually increasing since 2000. In 2000-2004, they grew by USD 2 166.1m to reach USD 3 669.4m. In 2004, import turnover reached USD 4146.3m – which represents a growth of USD 1760.5m since 2000. The higher growth rate of exports than imports resulted in the reduction of the negative foreign trade balance, from USD 902.4m to USD 476.8m, i.e. by USD 425.6m.

From 2000 to 2004, the average annual growth in value of exports from Malopolska equalled 25.1%, 22.7% above the national average. Better results in this category were recorded by the following regions: Swietokrzyskie, Slaskie, Wielkopolskie and Podlaskie.

The value of exports per capita in Malopolska in 2004 was USD 1 126, whilst in 2000 it was USD 465 (i.e. it was 2.4 times larger in 2004 than in 2000). The growth rate was also significant, although not as high as in Swietokrzyskie, Slaskie, Wielkopolskie and Podlaskie region.

Malopolska exports its products to a large number of countries and the number of its trade partners has been growing from 146 in 2000 to 162 in 2004 (and 165 in 2002). This tendency shows that the region can successfully initiate cooperation with a growing number of countries, which is an extremely positive phenomenon in terms of export expansion.

In 2003, 86 research and development institutions operated in Malopolska, of which: 35 were academic research and research and development units; 32 – development units and 14 – higher education establishments. They employed nearly 17 thousand persons altogether, 1 200 of them holding a professorial title.

Expenditure on research and development in Malopolska in 2003 totaled PLN 520m, of which only PLN 68.5 was assigned for capital investment in fixed assets (of which PLN 46.5 for the purchase of machinery, technical equipment, tools and means of transport).

Malopolska ranked 2nd in Poland in 2003 as regards expenditure on D&R per capita, which equalled PLN 160 (the Mazowieckie region was first with PLN 389, the national average - 119). Compared to 2000, expenditure in Malopolska, unlike in the rest of Poland, grew considerably (2000: Malopolska – PLN 136; the national average – PLN 124).
The inflow of foreign capital to the Malopolska Region has continued since 1997 at a similar pace of USD 590 – 640m per annum. Analyses show that, in 2003, foreign direct investment (FDI) in the region amounted to at least USD 609m. This value is slightly above the value recorded in 2001 and in 2002 (USD 589 and 592m, respectively).
A slightly better result as regards FDI was recorded in 2000 (USD 641m), and significantly better in 1999 (USD 923m) when Bank Przemyslowo-Handlowy was commercialised. The total value of FDI in Malopolska from 1989 to 2003 amounts to USD 5.5m, which corresponds to USD 1 700 per capita in the region. In the first half of 2004, the inflow of foreign capital was higher than in the respective period of 2003.

The largest investors are: BP International B.V, Electricite de France International (EDF), Delphi Automotive Systems, Philip Morris, House of Prince, Pliva, F&P Holding Company Inc., Valeo, Donnelley, Air Liquide S.A., Hydro Central Europe BV, Royal Ahold N.V, Motorola Inc, Bahlsen. In total, they invested USD 3500m. The investors that invested more than USD 10m represent approximately 80.0% of the total investments made in the region.

The Malopolska Region is characterized by the highest employment rate in agriculture in Poland. For every 100 ha of farmland in Malopolska, there are 24.3 persons employed in agriculture (national average is 12.8/100ha). As regards the employment structure, persons employed in agriculture account for 18.2% of those employed; industry and construction sector – 26.8%; market services - 36%, and non-market services – 19%.